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Apple Releases Mac Mini

cranesan writes "The rumors of Apple releasing a small PC are confirmed. The Mac mini can be found at Apple's website. As expected, the box uses a G4 processor. You can order one today; estimate 3-4 weeks shipping date. Base unit starts at $499."

8 of 1,212 comments (clear)

  1. Dupe... by Delphix · · Score: 5, Informative

    C'mon guys. This isn't news, especially since you reported it yourself here. It's just a two day old dupe of old news.

  2. Previous link and Financial results by Lord+Satri · · Score: 5, Informative

    This was previously discussed on this Slashdot story. Also of interest is this announcement :

    Apple announced their financial results for the fourth quarter today, reporting a profit of $295M, or $0.70 per share. They shipped 4.58M iPods, an increase of 525 % over the year ago quarter. But more surprisingly, Apple CPU sales were up 26% themselves over the year ago quarter. Over 1,046,000 Macs went found their way into customer's hands in the quarter.
    See http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jan/12results .html

    After reading comments from the other /. story discussing the Mac Mini, I believe this Mac Mini is doomed for a **huge** success. Good for competition. Good for everyone :-)

  3. Re:And here are the more interesting posts: by Kick+the+Donkey · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well... I'd say this would be one case where you'd buy the OEM RAM. The mini-mac's only got one DIMM. So, if you buy the 256MB, then run out and buy a 512MB stick from Crucial, say, you'd be throwing your money away on the 256MB that came with the unit.

    --
    /. is a bunch of nerds at a million typewriters. It's not a political conspiracy determined to undermine your beliefs.
  4. Re:Headless Alternative for Less by sgant · · Score: 5, Informative

    How is the Mini "insanely overpriced" compared to the computer you mentioned?

    CPU - OK, the "headless Dell" is faster.
    RAM - Both same amount of RAM
    HD - Both 40 gigs
    Warranty - the Dell is a year better..and is on-site.
    BOTH COST $499

    So, where is the "insanely overpriced" come in? If it were $699 then perhaps you would have a valid argument. But of course, you do not.

    Not to mention the fact you get a TON of software with the Mini and OSX. How much software comes with the Dell? Yeah, thought so...

    And here I'm not even using a Mac nor own a Mac and even I can see you're so full of shit it's not even funny. If you have a beef against Apple, then please, think a little harder next time to come up with something of substance.

    --

    "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
  5. Re:Headless Alternative for Less by bwalling · · Score: 5, Informative

    The reason that you're going to get a dozen replys from the Apple "amen corner" is that you very clearly don't get it. If you could buy a Yugo for $5000 or a Honda for $5500, which one would you want? Sure, you could say that Dell is better than Yugo, but you'd still be missing the point.

    Apple's hardware is better than the bottom basement x86 crap. Dell is using the lowest bidder, and changing monthly. Apple is consistently using the same hardware. This is important for two reasons. First, Apple can make sure the drivers work well. In the x86 world, drivers are a mess, written by the company that made the hardware. You have no guarantee of quality, and that is partially what makes Windows unstable. Second, if the hardware sucks, Apple will drop them.

    More importantly, Apple's software is better. OS X is very pleasant to use. It's powerful for advanced users, and simple for novices. The bundled apps are easier to use. Plug and play works very well. Your mom's camera will just work without special drivers and special helper apps for downloading the images (yes, some digicams just work under Windows, but my Canon required a whole suite of applications to get the damn pictures from it).

    What you seem to not understand is that these things have a value. In fact, they are worth at least the $50 price difference to many people. The fact that people find value in this shouldn't bother you. You shouldn't feel some compelling need to point out that an apple and an orange have different prices. Many people want a Mac. You seem to think that people want a computer.

  6. Re:Headless Alternative for Less by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Err, you DO know that other companies besides Apple make displays, right?

    Those displays will work with the mini. So will pretty much any USB keyboard and mouse. And this machine is targeted rather specifically at people who already have a keyboard, mouse, and display.

    Some people will piss and moan about anything, I swear.

  7. Re:And here are the more interesting posts: by throughthewire · · Score: 5, Informative
    ...OSX is really picky about its RAM...sometimes it won't recognize non-Apple branded RAM very well, or so I've heard.

    Heard where?

    The RAM I've got in my old G4 began its life in a Dell server. It runs OS X just fine. It ran OS 9 and 8.6 just peachy, too. I have trouble believing that an OS could identify the difference between OEM and 3rd party RAM, or behave any differently.

    Cheap, flaky RAM, on the other hand, can hose a machine no matter what OS you're running.

  8. Re:And here are the more interesting posts: by CaptDeuce · · Score: 5, Informative
    There are *no* user servicable parts in a mini Mac: you want to open it up you have to bust the case and void your warranty. That includes switching in some more memory.

    This simply isn't true. I'll let Henry Norr, veteran Mac journalist at http://www.macintouch.com/mwsf2005notebook.html/, tell it like it is:

    Apple "does not recommend" that users upgrade the memory themselves - you're supposed to have a service provider do it if you want to add more after purchase - but doing it yourself does not void the warranty unless you damage something. A booth person told me the memory slot is easily accessible once you get the case open.

    This has been Apple's policy for donkey years.

    --
    "Where's my other sock?" - A. Einstein